BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Professional and Academic Development

This module centres on developing professional and laboratory competencies essential in the field of science.

You will participate in a personal development programme, where you will have regular meetings with an academic advisor and develop study and examination skills.

Additionally, you will study how to implement information technology and library resources into your work, including searching, citing published information, and using citation managers.

Mathematics for academic and healthcare professionals will be implemented throughout lectures and workshops.

Through a series of tasks, you will participate in group activities with formative feedback that will help develop your collaborative, communicative and problem-solving skills.

Laboratory Practical Skills

This module will provide you with a range of fundamental study and practical skills that can be applied throughout this degree and beyond.

You will develop a range of critical skills, including numeracy, information literacy, writing abilities and essential study skills.

Your lectures will introduce you to the theory and applications of basic techniques used in research and diagnostic practice laboratories.

You will learn about bioethics, risk assessment, control of substances hazardous to health regulations and good laboratory practice, and develop core competencies in the use of key laboratory equipment.

Cell and Microbiology

This module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of cellular biology, including the structural and functional features of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

You will learn about molecular mechanisms underlying biological functions at the cellular level, including generic principles that apply to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and special features of eukaryotic cells.

The module will explore the structure and function of cellular organelles, the cell membrane, the cell cycle, and the process of cellular division. You will learn about the established facts regarding the origins of life, the evolution of living cells and organisms, and the macromolecules that form cells, including their assembly and function within cells.

Physiology & Anatomoy

This module provides an introduction to human anatomy and physiology.

You will explore the structure and function of key body systems, and gain an understanding of the regulation and interdependence of tissues and organs within the body’s systems, both in health and disease.

Practical sessions will contain a combination of laboratory practical classes covering gross anatomy and histology, physiology and kinesiology. Tutorials, workshops, and seminars will supplement weekly lectures; in these sessions, you will analyse a relevant case study, receive answers to your questions, take part in discussions, and complete in-class activities.

Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics

This module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of biochemistry and molecular genetics.

You will study the metabolism and the regulatory signalling cascades alongside the chemical reaction pathways.

This module should form the basis for a clearer understanding of the relationship between metabolism, nutrition, lifestyle, and biochemical principles of diseases.

Immunology, Haematology & Transfusion

This module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of haematology, immunology and transfusion sciences.

By the end of this module, you should be able to describe haemopoiesis, the circulatory system and the composition and functions of blood cells.

During seminar sessions, you will participate in group work, design scientific posters, give presentations, discuss published literature, and write essays. Workshops will focus on schematic drawings of blood cells and cultured cells to help students become more familiar with cell identification.

Laboratory practical classes will provide you with experience in research methods in immunology and prepare you with basic practical techniques for the clinical modules.

Applied Biomedical Skills & Development

This module focuses on developing essential professional and laboratory skills for a career in science.

Regular meetings with an academic advisor are part of your personal development programme, which also includes CV writing, the creation of a professional profile, and job application tasks.

You will learn pathology laboratory practice within the basic pathological disciplines, laboratory workflow, fundamental laboratory practices, standard operational procedures, record-keeping and adherence to good laboratory practice guidelines.

This module will also cover tools used in clinical diagnostic practice, diagnostic methods and technology, quality management, codes of practice and standards, including professional integrity and behaviour, and the handling of emergency situations in a laboratory. It will also cover how to follow health and safety protocols, procedures, and laboratory good practice guidelines.

Medical Microbiology

This module will provide you with in-depth knowledge of medical microbiology and its importance in the detection and prevention of infection.

You will learn about microbes subdivided into four groups: bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. During taught sessions, you will be introduced to techniques on obtaining samples, aseptic technique, safety procedures, clinical sample transportation, laboratories’ quality control and regulatory processes.

In addition, you will study the point-of-care testing and quality management in clinical microbiology, and biochemical reactions for differentiating clinically important bacteria, focusing on applications of identification tests, susceptibility testing and antibiotic assay.

Cellular and Molecular Pathology

This module will provide an introduction to the cellular and molecular pathology disciplines.

You will learn about the history of pathology, techniques used in clinical pathology, disease mechanisms and systematic pathology, as well as the art of diagnosis in living patients and autopsies.

This module will introduce you to the workflow in a cellular pathology laboratory, and you will learn about disorders of growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis, as well as responses to cellular injury and inflammation, neoplasia, and carcinogenesis.

Clinical Genetics

This module covers essential concepts in clinical genetics.

You will learn about the examination of human genome databases, including principles of inheritance, and investigate the role of genetic variability either as a direct cause of, or a predisposing factor to human diseases.

You will also consider single-gene disorders, including case studies, as well as multifactorial diseases and genetic linkage, and discuss the application of gene therapy and DNA-based techniques for gene mapping, linkage, modification, and mutation detection, including gene editing.

Advanced genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic methods for analysing human chromosomes and DNA, along with molecular biology, bioinformatics, pharmacogenetics, and personalised medicine applications, will also be covered in this module.

Clinical Biochemistry

This module covers essential concepts in clinical biochemistry, focusing on the analysis of body fluids to aid in the diagnosis and management of diseases.

You will learn about the role of Clinical Biochemistry in healthcare, from its origins in laboratory medicine, to its current critical function in disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and personalised medicine.

A significant portion of the module highlights common diagnostic tests and the disease processes they help identify and manage.

The use of these techniques to quantify biomarkers, diagnose diseases, and track treatment efficacy will also be discussed, with a focus on precision, sensitivity, and the growing impact of high-throughput technologies in advancing diagnostics and enhancing personalised patient care and near-patient testing.

Clinical Immunology, Haematology & Transfusion

This module provides an in-depth understanding of clinical haematology, immunology, and transfusion sciences, allowing you to comprehend the components that comprise blood in both normal and diseased states, and learn about the changes in health and disease, including the structure, function, and production of blood cells.

You will also learn about haemostasis, fibrinolysis, thrombosis, and the nature and diagnosis of anaemia, haemoglobinopathy, lymphoma, and leukaemia, as well as the principles and practice of haematological techniques used for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and disease monitoring.

This module’s content will help you understand the choice of diagnostic assays, therapies and monitoring in various autoimmune diseases, malignancies and infections.

Research in Biomedicine

This module aims to develop the key skills required to undertake a laboratory research project and to provide an understanding, with practical experience, of the procedures used in the analysis and presentation of research findings.

Under the guidance of a research supervisor, you will learn how to write a research map and a project proposal, which will serve as the basis for the research project module.

You will be prepared for research experience in the laboratory or relevant clinical field, and develop skills needed to conduct experimental research. Laboratory induction, risk assessment, COSHH, laboratory book and relevant training required for the research project will be completed within this module.

Additionally, a significant portion of this module will focus on statistics for healthcare and biomedical research.

Pharmacology & Bioinformatics

This module is designed to develop a deep understanding of the core principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology, with a focus on how drugs interact with their targets and the mechanisms underlying these interactions.

It will explore molecular and cellular interactions, linking them to pharmacological and toxicological effects in patients, using selected case studies.

The content will also cover pharmacokinetic analysis, addressing the absorption, distribution, and elimination of drugs in therapeutic and clinical contexts.

Key toxicological principles, including clinical trials, dose-response relationships, and the concept of LD50, will be explained, as well as multi-drug interactions and their clinical management, particularly in relation to ageing populations and the influence of diverse genetic backgrounds.

Integrated Diagnostics

This module will provide you with an opportunity to draw together all studied pathology disciplines from Level 5 clinical specialisms modular content.

You will be provided with refresher sessions on diagnostic tests in Clinical haematology, immunology, transfusions, microbiology and cellular pathology, and explore imaging techniques.

You will also have sessions with professionals to discuss career prospects and learn from real-life patient care examples in clinical practice, as well as study relevant cases and be provided with opportunities to develop your collaborative group work skills.

You will perform independent and group research to analyse data and techniques from published scientific articles, and navigate hypothetical case studies, from the first GP visit through to diagnosis and treatment plans.

Research Project

This module will enable you to perform an individual piece of research, generating your own data and analysing the significance of the findings.

Projects will be offered in biomedical science areas that involve either laboratory research, bioinformatics, or computer modelling.

As part of the process, you will consider the relevant risk assessments, COSHH requirements and ethics for the work being undertaken.

During this module you are expected to develop your research skills, including experimental design, understanding qualitative & quantitative research methods, data analysis and visualisation, numerical and analytical skills, use of large datasets, digital tools and technological skills, critical thinking, independent and team-working, planning and organisational skills, communication skills, creativity and use of own initiative.

Bioentrepreneurship (optional)

This module will provide you with knowledge on developing transferable skills and connecting them to your understanding of current issues in biomedical sciences.

You will learn about the commercial exploitation of biomedical discoveries and medical technologies.

Using a Business Model Canvas, you will evaluate your own idea for commercialisation, working in a group of  3-5 with a project supervisor.

The groups will present their business ideas in a “Dragons’ Den”-style pitch to staff members and submit an executive summary for review by the panel. This experience aims to enhance your entrepreneurial and collaborative skills in a biomedical context.

Nutrition and Public Health (optional)

This module will provide you with knowledge on Nutrition and Public Health.

You will learn about the impact of nutrition on public health outcomes, including the prevention and management of chronic diseases, and explore the various factors that influence dietary choices, including cultural, social, and economic determinants, as well as the role of policy and interventions in promoting healthy eating habits and addressing food insecurity in communities.

You will gain practical skills in assessing dietary patterns, designing nutrition education programs, and advocating for evidence-based nutrition policies.

Furthermore, this module will emphasise the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing nutrition-related public health challenges, providing you with the opportunity to work alongside professionals from diverse fields, including public health practitioners, nutritionists, policymakers, and community leaders.

Upon completing this module, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse and address nutrition-related public health issues critically.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (optional)

This module will provide you with knowledge on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

You will learn about various types of alternative therapies, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic care, and more, as well as explore the principles behind these practices and understand how they differ from conventional medicine.

Additionally, you will explore the historical and cultural contexts in which these therapies originated, gaining a deeper understanding of their significance in various societies.

Through case studies and practical exercises, you will also develop skills in assessing the effectiveness and safety of alternative treatments. By the end of the module, you will have a comprehensive understanding of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, equipping you with the tools to critically evaluate and integrate these approaches into your future healthcare practices.